There’s A Mouse In The House

Among the many books I bought when I took up the crochet hook was one featuring animal trophy heads. A strange choice I think you’ll agree but one can only have so many blankets around the place and I thought they might be fun.

I started with the smallest animal in the book – a mouse – which may have been a mistake as I’m not used to using 4-ply yarn and a 2mm hook so it was a bit fiddly but it is done.

Mr. T. made me a little wooden shield out of some scrap wood he had lying about.

Now the cats have the first of what might well be several trophies for ‘their room’ aka our conservatory. Maybe it will discourage them from bringing any more real ones in but I doubt it.

I think I’ll do the hare next but I won’t hang that in the cats’ room in case it gives them ideas.

I know they don’t look very dangerous but, trust me, I wouldn’t want to be a mouse (or mole!) in the vicinity (plus there are four others lurking out of shot!)

To think I used to say ‘life’s too short to stuff a mushroom’.

As I used some scrap yarn – albeit Jaegar alpaca no less – and the wood was scrap too, I’m linking up with Kate and Gun’s Scraphappy Day for which we attempt to make something using scraps every month – or just when we have something to show.

That’s an AWESOME scrappy project! Mousey cat-trophies made of alpaca. Are you quite sure you couldn’t have involved another species…? They are adorable, and I reckon you could sell these too… and possibly cat trophies for dogs? What to give the pet that has everything 🙂

your mouse head is brilliant, and well done Mr T for the wooden trophy board.
As for the dress in progress . . . are you getting ready to wave your Union Jack on Saturday?
Gorgeous sleeves, neckline and fabric!

He likes to get involved.
I am wondering whether the dress will be formal enough to wear to the wedding as, of course, my invite is propped up on the mantelpiece as I type but I’m not sure I can be bothered to go. I will certainly raise a glass or two on Saturday and, if I remember, it will be to the happy couple.

The dress is actually supposed to be for my daughter – she’s got a thing about clothing with bird designs at the moment – but, if it doesn’t fit her I would be glad to take it off her hands. Either way, I fully intend to make one for me anyway.

I tried giving the cats a whisker trim but they weren’t having any of it so I had to use nylon monofilament which I found in my long abandoned jewellery making supplies.
I’m pleased with the dress so far – it’s one of those projects I have to concentrate on so it makes me slow down and take time to make sure each stage is good before I move on to the next – good job the weather is so rubbish here that there is no urgency for a summer dress 😦

If you’re talking about using dog hair for stuffing, what about creating the next mouse head out of cat hair? It looks like you’ve got at least one contributor on hand. 😉 I know, I know, too fiddly by half…

I can sort of imagine using dog hair for yarn – if I was into the spinning part that is – but cat hair is so floaty and light that, even though I have six willing contributors, I think that would definitely be a ‘life’s too short’ project.

I’m on a grey mouse next but I’m impatient to move on to the hare, continue with a circular blanket, start a multi coloured blanket, turn the heel on some socks, do another three legs and a tail for a dog and, oh yes, finish that dress. So, even though I am only the cats’ humble servant, I think they will have to be content with two mouse trophies

You’re so clever! I love that the “trophy” mouse will hang in the cat’s room. They’re adorable (the cats and the faux mouse). Tessa moves at lighting speed when she wants to, and she can be stealth kitty too. I feel your pain.

I love that bird motif on your dress. Is it cotton or something with drape like rayon?

Oh yes, I remember you are fond of hares. I hope it won’t freak you out too much then, to see one’s head mounted as a trophy – if I ever get round to it that is! I seem to be in ‘amigurumi mode’ at the moment which must stop shortly otherwise I won’t get any of my other projects finished.